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The nominating committee has selected candidates for the IBBA Board of Directors. Voting will commence by mail ballot and should be returned by mail to the auditors by December 31. Candidates’ biographies will be printed in the December Brangus Journal. Instructions and an addressed envelope will be mailed to all IBBA members. Members will also be voting on a proposed change to the IBBA by-laws. Again, please check your mail as all information will be mailed.

NOTE: When voting for the proposed by-law change, pleaseSIGN YOUR NAME ON THE FIRST PAGE AND WRITE YOUR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER.
The IBBA staff did not indicate a place on the ballot for members to add this, and yourvote will not be counted unless it is signed and a membership number is indicated.

2015 Board of Director Candidates

Area 4- Evon L. Crooks

Evon Crooks and his family live in Mocksville, N.C. He has a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from Long Island University in New York City and also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from The City University of New York. He is currently employed by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Winston-Salem and holds the position of Principal Scientist/Director. He is the inventor on approximately 70 U.S. patents and also has an equivalent number of European and Asian patents in the area of combustion chemistry and filtration applications.

Crooks migrated to the U.S. from Jamaica in 1970. He served as chairman of the Central North Carolina Section of the American Chemical Society from 1994 to 1996. He served as president of the Mission Society of the Moravian Church Southern Province from 2006 to 2010. He and his wife, Carol, own and operate EC Farms in Mocksville, N.C. The farm specializes in the production of registered Brangus cattle and Boer goats. He served on the board of the Southeast Brangus Breeders Association and served as president from 2012 to 2014. Carol and Evon have been married for 36 years with two adult sons, a daughter, and two (almost three) grandchildren.

Evon grew up raising cattle on his parent’s farm in Jamaica and is passionate about cattle farming. Evon and Carol bought their first Brangus cows in 1998 and have performed AI every year to build the herd they have today. Doug Williams has watched the transformation of the herd.

“With cattle prices at an all-time high, we cannot become complacent,” Evon said. “We must continue to improve genetics and expand markets. For these two reasons, I am asking for your vote to represent you on the IBBA board.”

Area 4- Davy Sneed

David “Davy” Sneed is a fifth generation cattle producer raising registered and commercial Brangus on his family’s Century Farm in McMinnville, Tenn., with his wife, Wendy. He began in the Brangus business in the mid ‘90s when he became involved with the Mid-South Junior Brangus Association. Growing up, Davy was active on both the Mid-South Junior Brangus board and the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association, holding officer positions in both. He has continued his love of the show ring by working with several 4-H and FFA youth in fitting and showmanship clinics over the years, as well as assisting youth with their projects.

Following high school, Davy worked for Higgins Livestock in Woodbury, Tenn., for four years. Higgins procures approximately 7,000 to 8,000 head of stocker cattle per year, and Davy assisted with all management aspects. Sneed then took a position with the Rutherford Farmer’s Cooperative as Animal Health and Livestock Equipment Sales Representative where he stayed for the next 11 years. Davy currently works for Performance Feeds and Animal Health based out of Red Boiling Springs, Tenn., and covers 11 counties in Tennessee and Northern Alabama.

Davy serves on the Cannon County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, serves as the President of the Cannon County Young Farmers and Ranchers, and Advisor to the Cannon County Cattlemen’s Association. He has also served as the Cannon County Cattlemen’s Association President, Southeastern Brangus Breeders board, and sat on the Southeastern Brangus Breeders’ Association Junior Show Committee for the past two years.

Davy’s wife, Wendy, is an eighth generation farmer raised on a dairy operation in Northwest Tennessee before accepting a position with the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program in 2007. She is currently the Livestock Marketing Specialist for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and serves on several state cattle organizations. As Davy manages the production side of the operation, Wendy oversees the marketing of the cattle off farm through various methods. They have a true understanding of the big picture in not only the beef industry, but also all of agriculture industry.

With the prices at all-time highs, Davy understands producer’s anticipation to sell while prices are high, but also sees the importance in retaining and/or purchasing heifers.

“We have the lowest cow numbers in the United States in over 50 years, and to remain the power protein we need producers in areas where it is possible to build back to and to assist those younger producers trying to get into the cattle business,” Davy said. “In Tennessee alone, we have lost 140,000 plus mama cows, and with beef as the state’s number one agricultural receipts, we need to work with producers in building their herds. As we, in the Brangus breed, realize we have the best maternal offering out there, how better to help grow our commercial numbers than to assist commercial breeders looking to expand by educating them on the benefits of Brangus crossed cows in their herd.”

Area 6- Carolyn Beldon Carson

Carolyn Belden Carson has been involved in the Brangus business for 24 years as an owner and manager of Wyman Creek Cattle Company in Oroville, Calif. Wyman Creek Cattle Company runs approximately 165 registered Brangus cows and markets bulls throughout California and females through various seedstock consignment sales.

“We are proud to have built from two open heifers purchased in the fall of 1990 to the herd that is currently ranked sixth in the breed for breeders and owners of Summit Cows in 2014,” Carson said.

At Wyman Creek Cattle, they maintain a focus on sound, functional cattle that have appeal to both registered and commercial cattlemen.

The multi-generation ranch is operated with the intent of building a future for the next generation. They focus on raising cattle and growing and marketing hay in Northern California. If elected, Carson looks forward to serving the membership in any way needed.

“My focus would be on building demand for Brangus seedstock through increasing Brangus sired feeder calf demand throughout the all parts of the country,” Carson said.

Area 7- Brandon Belt

Brandon Belt was born and raised near Gatesville, Texas, on the same place where he still lives. He has been involved in the farming and ranching business his entire life from being involved in 4-H and FFA early in life to becoming involved in various AgriLife Extension endeavors since that time. He is no stranger to educational and promotional pursuits.

After attending Tarleton State University where he received a BBA in Accounting, he went on to receive a J.D. from the Baylor School of Law. After a period in private practice in Gatesville, he became the elected County Attorney of Coryell County in 2005. Belt and his wife, Kari, have been married for 13 years, and they have three boys.

Belt comes from a long line of cattlemen and began showing registered Brangus heifers in high school. He bought his first set of registered Brangus cows and a bull at the Blazer dispersal in the spring of 1993. After more than 20 years of breeding Brangus cattle in Central Texas, he now has a herd he is very proud of. The focus at Belt Brangus is on raising range bulls for commercial producers. They also market registered and commercial replacement females and feeder calves every year.

Belt has been very involved in the Brangus cattle business on a local level and is the current President of the Hill Country Brangus Breeder’s Association, on the Board of Directors for the Texas Brangus Breeder’s Association, and is on the IBBA Finance Committee.

“Many of you who know me know that I am a person of principle and character,” Belt said. “I have no intention of setting either one of those things aside in my service to the IBBA. I may very well not do what makes everyone happy all the time, but I will consistently do what I believe is best for the members of the IBBA.”

“I have watched as a great deal of change has occurred in our organization over the years, some of it I was happy with, and some of it was fairly disappointing to me,” Belt said. “It is my opinion that the IBBA has two main jobs; one, register Brangus cattle and two, promote the Brangus breed. I believe that if the IBBA focuses and excels at those two things, everything else will fall into place. It is not time to get bogged down in trivial matters and side bar issues. We need to focus on our members and our cattle. If I am elected, that is exactly what I will strive to do. I am no stranger to making hard decisions, nor to fighting and arguing for what I believe is right. I do it every day for a living, and I will do it for you on the IBBA board if given an opportunity.”

Area 8- Adam Graven

Adam Graven comes from a long line of cattlemen, beginning with his grandfathers: one, raising registered Angus in North Dakota; and the other, ranching in the Nebraska Sandhills. Graven continues the legacy with a lifetime of experience in the purebred cattle industry. Born at Ankony Angus in South Dakota, he moved to Texas with his family when he was 18 months old. He grew up around some of the most influential, competitive and innovative operations in the Brangus breed including the original Brinks Brangus and Pruett-Wray Cattle Company. He attended Texas A&M University before starting his own show and sale consulting business in 1995.

During his lifetime in the seedstock industry, Graven witnessed the progression and application of new technologies: non-surgical embryo transfer, ultrasound for ribeye and back-fat, and the implementation of EPDs to name a few. He learned the genetic and environmental dynamics of raising livestock in geographic extremes from the high desert of Arizona to the Mid-South, Gulf Coast, Central plains, and Western Canada.

Graven returned to his Brangus roots in 2013 to develop and grow the breeding program for Deep Down Ranch in Jennings, La. He serves on the Brangus International Committee and is dedicated to promoting Brangus and beef cattle. Graven believes that his expertise and experience with some of the most successful genetics and influential cattle ventures (across many breeds in the U.S. and Canada) brings a distinctive insight for Brangus breeders to position the association for a secure future.

Area 8- Doyle Miller

Doyle Miller is the managing partner of Miller Brangus, a registered and commercial Brangus breeding program located in Waynesboro, Tenn. Miller Brangus, owned by E. D., Bert, and Doyle Miller, has been in the cattle business for 38 years and in the registered Brangus business for 31 years. Miller Brangus strives to breed a superior seedstock cow herd using proven stockman principles in combination with the technologies of artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and ultrasound technology.

Miller was born and raised in Waynesboro, Tenn. After graduating from Wayne County High School in 1980, he attended Union University in Jackson, Tenn., where he received a double major in accounting and computer science in 1984.

Moving forward, Miller is a long-time Certified Public Accountant and has assisted individuals and businesses in a range of financial aspects that include tax and business planning, strategic planning, financial analysis, and general business consulting.

He has, in the past, served on the IBBA Promotion Committee, the IBBA Finance Committee, Breed Improvement Committee, and Membership Services Committee.

If elected to serve on the IBBA board, Miller would like the members to know the following areas are important to him:

The International Brangus Breeders Association is a member organization. When major decisions need to be made, the Board of Directors will try to get input from as many members as possible.

The general membership should be encouraged to attend most Board of Directors and standing committee meetings during the convention and the fall meetings.

The general membership should be encouraged to communicate concerns that are important to them to the Board of Directors.

We continually promote our breed as the black hided cattle breed of choice for the more southern climates due to its heat tolerance, maternal traits, and ability to produce a carcass comparable in quality to Angus, and that if we, as an association, promote these facts at an appropriate level, we will increase the demand for our breed.

As an association, we strive to grow our membership and the number of cattle we register.

As a director, we need to stay in contact with the members we serve.

As an association, we periodically review the THR fee structure in an effort to treat all members as economically fair as possible.

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SAN ANTONIO, TX- Tommy Milliorn of Abilene, Texas, was awarded the 2014 Harry Holt “Good Neighbor” Award by the West Texas Rehabilitation Center (WTRC) for his support of the Abilene community and the Rehab’s slogan, neighbor helping neighbor.

“I was surprised but very honored to receive this award,” said Milliorn. “I thank all the committee members and board members for selecting me.”

The annual award was presented to Milliorn at the Round-Up for Rehab Kickoff Dinner September 14, 2014, and is named after longtime agriculture broadcaster Harry Holt. The award recognizes a person involved in the agriculture industry who has provided support to the WTRC’s mission, encouraged others to get involved in a good cause, and led by positive example. Milliorn has served on the Board of Directors for the WTRC and given back to help his community.

“The Rehab feels Tommy Milliorn meets all the award criteria and is a deserving recipient of this year’s award,” said Dan Huggins, WTRC’s Director of Donor Relations.

Milliorn grew up just 15 miles east of Abilene in Eula where he operated a commercial cattle operation until the early ‘80s when he joined the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) and started running registered Brangus cattle. He then joined the West Texas Brangus Breeders Association and has served as the association’s sale chairman for approximately 15 years. In 1965, Milliorn moved to Abilene and started a real estate business. He has owned and operated Tommy Milliorn Realtors for 50 years and served as president of the Abilene Board of Realtors. Milliorn and his wife of 10 years, Ruth Ann, together own and manage Big Elm Cattle Company.

The WTRC is a non-profit organization started in the 1953 that provides outpatient care and physical rehabilitation to more than 500 patients daily. The IBBA strives to highlight the success and achievements of its members both in and outside the industry. To learn more about the IBBA and Brangus cattle, visit www.GoBrangus.com.

SAN ANTONIO, TX– Kyle Dykes joined the staff at the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. As the Commercial Marketing Coordinator, Dykes will oversee IBBA’s commercial marketing programs while engaging with members and Brangus producers across the country. Dykes will be integral in expanding the breed’s global market share, promoting Brangus genetics to the commercial sector, and ultimately increasing demand for Brangus cattle.

“I am very honored and excited to go to work for our members,” Dykes said. “I look forward to helping them meet their needs in the purebred cattle business, advancing and promoting the Brangus breed, and building relationships all over the world.”

A native of Killeen, Texas, Dykes grew up on a small farm raising commercial cattle. Agriculture has always been a passion of his, and he has been actively trying to help make a difference and be a part of the growth of agriculture in Texas. Previously, Dykes worked as the Natural Resources County Extension Agent for McLennan County. This allowed him the opportunity to work with some of the finest 4-H youth in Texas and help them get more involved in the 4-H program. In addition to 4-H activities, Kyle managed the Master Gardener program and worked with agricultural producers in McLennan County to help educate and provide assistance to better meet their production goals.

“Kyle has a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and we are proud to have him as a member of the Brangus team,” said IBBA Executive Vice President Dr. Tommy Perkins. “He will engage with our members at sales and visit producers’ operations across the country to bridge the gap between the association and our members. Kyle will be essential in advancing IBBA programs, and I know he will be a great asset to the breed.”

Dykes received his bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University in 2013. He also received his certificate in Auctioneering from the Texas Auction Academy and has been licensed with the state of Texas since 2011. In 2013 Dykes won the Texas State Champion Rookie Auctioneer title and has gained experience in livestock, equipment and estate sales and is an active member of the Texas Auctioneers Association.

Due to his travel requirements and necessary visibility, Dykes will continue to reside in College Station, Texas, and will work as a remote staff member. Dykes can be contacted directly by email at kdykes@int-brangus.org or on his cell at 254-371-9388. For more information about Brangus cattle and the IBBA, visit www.GoBrangus.com.

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The Millikan family is sure about one thing- they love everything about their Brangus cattle and have a passion for the lifestyle they lead. In 1981 Homer and Carolyn Millikan, currently the owners of HC Brangus in Sedgewickville, Mo., had been raising registered Angus cattle when they bought a three-quarter Brangus bull and made the decision to introduce Brangus genetics into their breeding program.

Homer had been custom fitting show cattle and Carolyn was active in the show circuit when the couple, now married more than 50 years, initially met in Sedgewickville as young sixteen-year-olds. Homer admits it was his wife who convinced him to get involved in seedstock production, but it was Roy Meyer, Carolyn’s uncle, who taught him the ropes. Making a living strictly in the cattle business, Homer said you have to know what you are doing and know what you are selling.

“I’m trying to breed good, sound cattle,” Homer said. “I try to be consistent, and I breed cattle that are born small and gain weight before weaning time and perform on minimum feed. They have a lot of bone, rear end and ribeye area because it puts more thickness, depth and more length to your cattle; if you have a long, heavy-boned animal, they’ll put on more pounds.”

Carolyn said their steers often qualify for value added programs like Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and grade Choice on the grading scale. She compliments Brangus for being efficient, adaptable to their environment and more profitable because they weigh heavier at weaning.

“Our Brangus calves weighted 100 pounds more at weaning than Angus, grew bigger on less feed and can take the cold as well as the hot,” Carolyn said.

“They’re out grazing and not standing in the pond when it’s hot,” Homer agreed, “and they will eat a lot rougher forage than any other cow I know of. They can pick the blooms out of thistles and never get a sticker.”

Aside from the Brangus breed’s advantageous qualities, Homer places emphasis on smart management techniques to make the business successful. He knows everything there is to know about his cattle. He weighs them each month after weaning, he knows what they are eating, how much feed they get and exactly how much feed cost per pound.

“You’ve got to know your input cost and if it’s worth it to keep them on feed,” Homer said. “If they’re not gaining weight, you have to get rid of them, but we have very few that won’t gain like they should.”

Knowing their product and having specific goals for their breeding program is what has enabled Homer to easily market his cattle and build a positive reputation with his customers, some of which have been buying HC Brangus cattle for 15 years.

The Millikans utilize some of the latest technologies to be more efficient. Homer uses Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) to compare birth weight (BW) and ribeye area (REA) between two animals. The Millikans also utilize artificial insemination (AI) techniques to gain more access to other bloodlines, which their daughter, Bobbi Welker, oversees.

“We have daughters from our herd bull, and AI’ing gives us more options,” Welker said. “My daughter wanted to get into the club calf sires. We crossed the Maintainer bull with some of our Brangus heifers and got some nice looking heifer calves.”

Helping her mom and dad with the family business is a lifestyle Welker and her family appreciate and enjoy. She said it gives her an opportunity to teach her daughter, Samantha, important life lessons and how to be self-sufficient. Moreover, she said she could spend hours just watching the cows and calves; it is a peaceful place someone can go to get away from life’s demands and busy schedule.

“It’s great to have your family together and working together,” Welker said. “It’s a lot of work, but when you’re working together it can be a lot of fun.”

If you have questions about Brangus genetics or want more information, contact the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) at 210-696-8231 or visit www.gobrangus.com to find a Brangus breeder near you.

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The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Awards Committee is taking nominations for deserving recipients of the three awards given annually by the IBBA- Breeder of the Year, Commercial Producer of the Year, and Pioneer of the Year.

The Pioneer of the Year award recognizes an IBBA member, past or present, for his/her service, loyalty and recognizable contributions to the Brangus breed. Breeder of the Year recipient is a current member of the IBBA deserving of recognition for his/her successes and advancements made utilizing and promoting Brangus purebred cattle. The Commercial Producer of the Year award highlights a commercial producer’ achievements incorporating Brangus genetics into their breeding program. These awards are meant to showcase the achievements and contributions these breeders have made to the Brangus breed and the beef cattle industry.

If someone you know is a deserving candidate of one of these prestigious awards, submit your nomination by Wednesday, December 31, to Robert Field, chairman of the IBBA Awards Committee, by email at calyxstar@aol.com or by phone at 662-435-4885. You may also contact an IBBA Director. Visit IBBA’s website at gobrangus.com/contact-us.php for contact information. Award recipients will be recognized at the IBBA Annual Awards Banquet in March 2015.

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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS–The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) hosted a kickoff gala Friday, October 3, to commemorate the establishment of the International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF) and to bring education and awareness to the Foundation. Generous donors collectively gave $33,000 to establish funds for the IBBF.

“The Foundation will help the association make the advancements necessary to push the Brangus breed to the forefront of the beef cattle industry,” said Traci Middleton, President of the IBBA Board of Directors. “Funding from members and cooperators will allow for more research and education to substantiate the beneficial qualities of Brangus cattle.”

The IBBF will fund research initiatives to advance the livestock industry as a whole while benefitting Brangus breeders today and in the future, as well as educate the beef cattle industry about Brangus attributes and production practices. The Foundation will also provide youth opportunities to become leaders for the future of the Brangus breed and the agriculture industry.

The IBBA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, strives to provide the commercial cattle industry, domestically and internationally, with the best genetics possible. Initially founded in 1949 as the American Brangus Breeders, the purpose of the IBBA is to enable members to serve the commercial cattle industry. For more information, visit GoBrangus.com.

Generous donors contributed to the funds to establish the IBBF, totaling $33,000.

Ray Westall presented the IBBA with a check to initiate the funds for the Foundation. (L to R) Brandon Belt, Traci Middleton, Ray Westall and Dr. Tommy Perkins

The event kicked off last Thursday afternoon with committee meetings at the Drury Inn and Suites, and a barbecue at the IBBA headquarters concluded the evening with Forrest Roberts, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), headlining the event. Roberts spoke about the outstanding opportunities that lie ahead for the beef cattle industry and emphasized critical topics in need of producers’ attention like submitting comments to prevent the EPA’s definition expansion of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS).

“The opportunities that exist for producers in the beef cattle industry are greater than the challenges,” Roberts said.

Following the final committee meetings, Friday’s schedule included a field day at Doguet’s Diamond D Ranch in Poteet, Texas. A steak dinner was provided by Doguet’s, and transportation was sponsored by Charles and Charlotte Crochet from Lafayette, La. Producers were attentive during the informative live cattle demonstrations that followed about udder scoring, docility scoring, and feet and leg structure and were able to evaluate pens of cattle. Producers at the field day then directed questions to a panel of experts involved in various sectors of the cattle industry. Jason Bates, IBBA’s Director of Field Services and Commercial Marketing, moderated the panel consisting of Bill Austin, a commercial and purebred producer from Menard, Texas; Buck Thomason, a purebred producer from Cranfills Gap, Texas; Dr. Joe Paschall, Texas AgriLife Extension Agent in Corpus Christi, Texas; Jay Gray, Jr., General Manager of Graham Land and Cattle Co., Gonzales, Texas; and Lee Alford, a commercial and purebred producer from Caldwell, Texas.

Friday evening concluded with the International Brangus Breeders Foundation (IBBF) Kickoff Gala. The gala commemorated the establishment of the IBBF which will fund research initiatives to advance the livestock industry as a whole while benefitting Brangus breeders today and in the future, as well as educate the beef cattle industry about Brangus attributes and production practices. The Foundation will also provide youth opportunities to become leaders for the future of the Brangus breed and the agriculture industry. Generous donors collectively gave $33,000 to establish funds for the Foundation. Ray Westall, owner of Brinks Brangus @ Westall Ranches, LLC, presented the IBBA with a check to start off the fundraising. Bill and Gayle Davis, owners of Chimney Rock Cattle Co., matched Westall’s donation. Other donors included David and Nada Wood, Double W Ranch; Michael and Judy Kammerer, Red Bird Meadows Ranch; Russ and Pam Williamson, Skyhawk Brangus; Mike and Robin Vorel, Vorel Farms; and Joseph and Nancy Lingg, Lingg Brangus.

A Board of Directors meeting Saturday morning wrapped up the inaugural Brangus Fall Conference. Video highlights and coverage will be available at GoBrangus.com. The IBBA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, strives to provide the commercial cattle industry, domestically and internationally, with the best genetics possible. It was founded as the American Brangus Breeders in 1949 and has since evolved into the IBBA. The purpose of the IBBA is to enable members to serve the commercial cattle industry. For more information, visit GoBrangus.com.